Carved Wooden Bunraku Puppet Depicting a Sambaso Dancer, 20th Century

Live Auction

23" (23 cm.) including hat. Carved wooden head with highly-characterized features is loosely-jointed on tall wooden neck, ruddy complexion, black painted hair under the tall hat, black painted side brows, hinged lower lip, painted hint of moustache and beard, glass movable eyes. The head is attached to a firm paper-lined torso with attached rod upper arms and carved wooden lower arms, carved wooden lower legs, and the puppet is designed to have manipulation of the arms, as well as the movable large eyes and hinged jaw. Costume in classic manner of Sambaso dancer highlighted by a teal blue silk kimono with silk lining and orange silk banding on the very wide sleeves, that matches the orange silk inner kimono, with classic striped pointed hat, and holding three-tiered brass suzu bells on a wooden stick. The puppet is displayed on original wooden stand. Excellent condition. Showa era, 20th century. The puppet, with infinite moving possibilities, portrays the Sambaso dancer, whose ritual dance was purposed to drive off demons.